As Essence fest takes blame for Lauryn Hill’s wildly late set, Stephanie Mills lets criticism rip
The Essence Festival accepts accountability for Lauryn Hill’s late-night performance, where the renowned hip-hop artist graced the stage at 2:30 AM.
The organizers made it plain – we take Ms. Lauryn Hill seriously, not just for web traffic or sensational news. She showed up as scheduled, graced the stage, and gave a performance befitting a true legend.
Music
As a passionate moviegoer, I find myself embroiled in a legal dispute – ‘My Own Tale of Disappointment’. Pras Michél is taking Lauryn Hill to court over the Fugees’ abbreviated co-headlining tour. He alleges that she has committed fraud and breached our contract. This tour was meant to be a celebration, but it’s turned into a battle of justice.
The 31st yearly festival held in New Orleans, spanning from Friday to Sunday, faced problems right from the start. As reported by NOLA, it was revealed that Hill had been discreetly included in an overcrowded roster only two days prior to the opening evening.
One fan playfully asked, ‘Has Lauryn been informed about this?’ Another humorously referred to her past reputation for lateness when commenting on the same Instagram post revealing the news.
On the opening day, as per reports, the festival was already delayed when the contemporary R&B group Psyrin took the stage first. At the midway mark, GloRilla concluded her set 45 minutes ahead of schedule, as stated by NOLA. Consequently, it was no shock that the headliner, Hill, didn’t appear until 2:30 a.m. on Saturday. She performed to a sparse crowd at Caesars Superdome – many thousands fewer than expected – wrapping up with “Fu-Gee-La” over an hour later.
Despite Hill often running her performances behind schedule, even joking with a 2023 audience “You’re fortunate that I arrived”, the organizers of the Essence Festival were quick to accept responsibility for this particular delay.
Music
During her show at L.A.’s Crypto.com Arena, Lauryn Hill justifies her habit of starting performances later than scheduled. She expresses gratitude towards the audience, stating that they are fortunate simply to be witnessing her performance.
In our community, we prioritize family above all, and we stand by each other, regardless of external opinions,” the organizers stated.
Regarding the delay, it wasn’t her fault, we accept that. The event was extraordinary, something to remember. Her impact remains unparalleled. Let’s show her due respect. Continue with your opinions, but exclude her from them. A flood of love and deep-rooted admiration for Miss Lauryn Hill.
The comment acknowledged Essence’s responsibility, and it even got appreciation from the renowned Saturday headliner and music icon, Erykah Badu, in the form of clapping emojis.
While many were enthusiastic, it wasn’t the case for everyone. In an open letter penned to the Essence Festival on Tuesday, acclaimed Grammy winner Stephanie Mills expressed concerns over the festival’s overall professionalism.
Music
Billy McFarland, the organizer of the Fyre Festival, has announced that it’s time for him to take a step back and is now looking to sell his brand. At this point, the second edition of the Fyre Festival remains indefinitely delayed and lacks a confirmed venue.
Mills expressed gratitude for being part of the event, but shared that his overall experience was tainted due to major technical problems which affected not only his own performance, but also the entire artistic experience. This was performed on Sunday.
A post shared by Stephanie Mills (@iamstephaniemills)
She pointed out that the organization of the timetable and handling of tasks were poor, leading to a disorganized and tense atmosphere behind the scenes… Furthermore, the issues with the audio equipment, particularly its functionality, caused significant problems,” she elaborated.
In conclusion, she requested significantly enhanced experiences for both artists and festival attendees in upcoming editions.
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2025-07-08 22:01